Chimps may be coming to a courthouse near you

Among several recent articles crossing my desk were two that just blew my mind. How far will nuts go? Why do people support outlandish actions and proposals? Why do most, not all, of these activities take place in either the Northeast Coast or West Coast? Maybe the water is different there.

Let's look at two recent “outrages”. The Wall Street Journal on its editorial page June 12 referred to “The Law of the Jungle” telling about a Professor Wise at Harvard who seems to believe that chimpanzees and humans, which have some similar characteristics, should have equal rights and that our Constitution confers equal rights on each.

Another, Harvard law professor Larry Tribe seems to advocate that the 12th Amendment prohibiting slavery should also be applicable to animals. Pet owners, look out! Trial lawyers, rest assured, will take note.

If a buck can be made, they'll be suing. Just wait and see. The Journal closed its article as follows: “We wish this were a joke, except that in the current U.S. legal system the radical always seems to become the routine. So look out for the chimpanzees, coming soon to a courthouse near you.”

The thought is still evolving but seems for the present to be just more nonsense from academe. Unfortunately, the real world in California seems just as crazy.

Reuters News Agency has just reported the outcome of a suit by two members of “Earth First,” an enviro-activist group, who were awarded $4.4 million. The suit, believe it or not, arose out of the fact that these two activists were arrested after a pipe bomb that they were carrying in their car exploded.

The police and FBI were sued for false arrest and illegal search, and plaintiffs alleged they were framed by the police and FBI who believed their organization was subversive.

The arrests could hurt the organization's reputation. Just because the bomb blew up in their car was no reason for them to be charged with conspiracy to commit a crime. Can you believe this?

We had hoped that the events of 9/11 had brought many of our liberalists to their senses. Looks like we still have a way to go.

Ed Duskin is executive vice president of the Southern Crop Protection Association.